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Determination of Death by Neurological Criteria

In 2010, the American Academy of Neurology updated guidelines for determining brain death in adults. Prior to the neurological examination, the
patient must meet clinical prerequisites. Once the neurological examination is completed, an apnea test should be conducted. It only needs
to be conducted once. If clinical prerequisites cannot be met or any portion of the neurological examination or apnea test cannot be conducted,
an ancillary test is recommended.

Clinical Evaluation Prerequisites

Coma, irreversible and cause known

Neuroimaging explains coma (or is consistent with the cause of a coma)

Additional Resources:

A free online course that outlines the accepted medical standards for determining death by neurological criteria and provide clinicians with the tools to effectively diagnose death by neurological criteria.